his question. If you know the answer for sure, it's good to respond. Otherwise, I'd suggest treating the subject as optional.

Your Personal Appearance

All profiles ask you to describe your physical characteristics. The overwhelming majority of sites start with questions about your height, weight, eye color, hair color, and other things that people notice immediately when they see you for the first time. It can be surprisingly difficult to answer questions about how you look physically. if you're a lifeguard or a personal trainer, you'll probably have no problem coming forth with the vital statistics.

Anyone else can be excused for wondering about the necessity for answering every single question and for puzzling over exactly what answer to choose. Does i

When you are creating a profile, you have to pick and choose which parts of yourself to reveal. Identity theft, after all, is one of the biggest problems in cyberspace. The fact is, while you need to be honest, there's no reason to spill the beans on every last detail about yourself to meet some nice people. It's important to include the most basic information: You are a male looking for a female or a female looking for a male; the town where you live; whether you have kids; whether or not those kids live with you.

You are usually presented with the following options:

Married. Most online dating sites dates ban married members from looking for dates - but not all. A few sites are specifically designed for people with "open marriages" or who are interested in swinging,

Separated. Some states grant married people legal separations. But the overwhelming majority of people who describe themselves as separated are still married and are either thinking about divorce or are somewhere in the legal process. If you choose this category when creating your profile, be prepared to explain exactly what this means, either in an essay or an email exchange: Anyone interested in your profile will probably ask how long you have been separated, the nature of your contact with your spouse, and so on.

Divorced. Only choose this option if you are really, truly divorced and you have the piece of paper to prove it. The actual status matters to most people.

Single. This term is vague, and you should choose a more specific option if one is available, such as "Divorced," "Never Been Married," or "Widowed."

Widowed. If your spouse is deceased, choose this option.

These designations make a big difference to many online daters. Some would advise to be cautious with “separated” prospects as they may eventually reconciles with his or her spouse. On the other end of the continuum, those in their 40s or 50s who designate themselves as "Single Never Been Married" may not be interested in a long term serious relationship, but rather just to “have fun”

The Age Question

Many consider it important to designate your exact age rather than only providing an age range keeping in mind that your real age will come out when you meet someone in person. Men often seek women who are younger than they are, especially if they are hoping to start a family. Increasingly, however, women are also interested in younger dating partners. So, although there is an incentive for people to claim to be younger than they are, do not be tempted to lie. By the some token, you should be aware that many of the profiles you read online might not be entirely accurate in the age department.

If you have kids, they are an important part of your life. If you're using a site that doesn't provide a mechanism for detailing whether your kids live with you or not, it’s a good idea to talk more about your kids in your essay. Remember, you're looking for a person who will accept how much time you have to devote to your children and to potential relationships.

Do you want kids? Almost every dating site asks this question. If you know the answer for sure, it's good to respond. Otherwise, I'd suggest treating the subject as optional.

Your Personal Appearance

All profiles ask you to describe your physical characteristics. The overwhelming majority of sites start with questions about your height, weight, eye color, hair color, and other things that people notice immediately when they see you for the first time. It can be surprisingly difficult to answer questions about how you look physically. if you're a lifeguard or a personal trainer, you'll probably have no problem coming forth with the vital statistics.

Anyone else can be excused for wondering about the necessity for answering every single question and for puzzling over exactly what answer to choose. Does it

Separated. Some states grant married people legal separations. But the overwhelming majority of people who describe themselves as separated are still married and are either thinking about divorce or are somewhere in the legal process. If you choose this category when creating your profile, be prepared to explain exactly what this means, either in an essay or an email exchange: Anyone interested in your profile will probably ask how long you have been separated, the nature of your contact with your spouse, and so on.

Divorced. Only choose this option if you are really, truly divorced and you have the piece of paper to prove it. The actual status matters to most people.

Single. This term is vague, and you should choose a more specific option if one is available, such as "Divorced," "Never Been Married," or "Widowed."

Widowed. If your spouse is deceased, choose this option.

These designations make a big difference to many online daters. Some would advise to be cautious with “separated” prospects as they may eventually reconciles with his or her spouse. On the other end of the continuum, those in their 40s or 50s who designate themselves as "Single Never Been Married" may not be interested in a long term serious relationship, but rather just to “have fun”

The Age Question

Many consider it important to designate your exact age rather than only providing an age range keeping in mind that your real age will come out when you meet someone in person. Men often seek women who are younger than they are, especially if they are hoping to start a family. Increasingly, however, women are also interested in younger dating partners. So, although there is an incentive for people to claim to be younger than they are, do not be tempted to lie. By the some token, you should be aware that many of the profiles you read online might not be entirely accurate in the age department.

If you have kids, they are an important part of your life. If you're using a site that doesn't provide a mechanism for detailing whether your kids live with you or not, it’s a good idea to talk more about your kids in your essay. Remember, you're looking for a person who will accept how much time you have to devote to your children and to potential relationships.

Do you want kids? Almost every dating site asks this question. If you know the answer for sure, it's good to respond. Otherwise, I'd suggest treating the subject as optional.

Your Personal Appearance

All profiles ask you to describe your physical characteristics. The overwhelming majority of sites start with questions about your height, weight, eye color, hair color, and other things that people notice immediately when they see you for the first time. It can be surprisingly difficult to answer questions about how you look physically. if you're a lifeguard or a personal trainer, you'll probably have no problem coming forth with the vital statistics.

Anyone else can be excused for wondering about the necessity for answering every single question and for puzzling over exactly what answer to choose. Does i

such as "Divorced," "Never Been Married," or "Widowed."

Widowed. If your spouse is deceased, choose this option.

These designations make a big difference to many online daters. Some would advise to be cautious with “separated” prospects as they may eventually reconciles with his or her spouse. On the other end of the continuum, those in their 40s or 50s who designate themselves as "Single Never Been Married" may not be interested in a long term serious relationship, but rather just to “have fun”

The Age Question

Many consider it important to designate your exact age rather than only providing an age range keeping in mind that your real age will come out when you meet someone in person. Men often seek women who are younger than they are, especially if they are hoping to start a family. Increasingly, however, women are also interested in younger dating partners. So, although there is an incentive for people to claim to be younger than they are, do not be tempted to lie. By the some token, you should be aware that many of the profiles you read online might not be entirely accurate in the age department.

If you have kids, they are an important part of your life. If you're using a site that doesn't provide a mechanism for detailing whether your kids live with you or not, it’s a good idea to talk more about your kids in your essay. Remember, you're looking for a person who will accept how much time you have to devote to your children and to potential relationships.

Do you want kids? Almost every dating site asks this question. If you know the answer for sure, it's good to respond. Otherwise, I'd suggest treating the subject as optional.

Your Personal Appearance

All profiles ask you to describe your physical characteristics. The overwhelming majority of sites start with questions about your height, weight, eye color, hair color, and other things that people notice immediately when they see you for the first time. It can be surprisingly difficult to answer questions about how you look physically. if you're a lifeguard or a personal trainer, you'll probably have no problem coming forth with the vital statistics.

Anyone else can be excused for wondering about the necessity for answering every single question and for puzzling over exactly what answer to choose. Does i

if they are hoping to start a family. Increasingly, however, women are also interested in younger dating partners. So, although there is an incentive for people to claim to be younger than they are, do not be tempted to lie. By the some token, you should be aware that many of the profiles you read online might not be entirely accurate in the age department.

If you have kids, they are an important part of your life. If you're using a site that doesn't provide a mechanism for detailing whether your kids live with you or not, it’s a good idea to talk more about your kids in your essay. Remember, you're looking for a person who will accept how much time you have to devote to your children and to potential relationships.

Do you want kids? Almost every dating site asks this question. If you know the answer for sure, it's good to respond. Otherwise, I'd suggest treating the subject as optional.

Your Personal Appearance

All profiles ask you to describe your physical characteristics. The overwhelming majority of sites start with questions about your height, weight, eye color, hair color, and other things that people notice immediately when they see you for the first time. It can be surprisingly difficult to answer questions about how you look physically. if you're a lifeguard or a personal trainer, you'll probably have no problem coming forth with the vital statistics.

Anyone else can be excused for wondering about the necessity for answering every single question and for puzzling over exactly what answer to choose. Does i

his question. If you know the answer for sure, it's good to respond. Otherwise, I'd suggest treating the subject as optional.

Your Personal Appearance

All profiles ask you to describe your physical characteristics. The overwhelming majority of sites start with questions about your height, weight, eye color, hair color, and other things that people notice immediately when they see you for the first time. It can be surprisingly difficult to answer questions about how you look physically. if you're a lifeguard or a personal trainer, you'll probably have no problem coming forth with the vital statistics.

Anyone else can be excused for wondering about the necessity for answering every single question and for puzzling over exactly what answer to choose. Does it really matter if there's a little gray in your hair or if your eyes are hazel rather than plain brown? Why don't the questionnaires get you to describe the little things that make you special, such as that dimple on the left side of your chin, or the fact that one eye is a slightly different color than the other? You can point out such endearing characteristics in the common "describe yourself in your own words" essay that many sites include.

Height and weight run a close second and third behind age as profile options most likely to elicit a falsehood. Women frequently want men to be taller; men generally want women to be slim and athletic (a goal shared by women too, of course). How do you confess your height and weight if you're not feeling good about them?

Look for dating sites that ask you to specify a range rather than an exact number. Also provide a general description of your body type; most sites enable you to choose between words such as fit, athletic, slender, overweight, etc. You get the most latitude if you use one of these options rather than entering exact numbers, but you should expect to be prepared to provide statistics when someone talks to you on the phone or by email.

Describing Education, Income, and Other Basics

There hasn't been any scientific information gathered on how much education online daters have. There is a degree of self selection that already exists, in that participants know how to use computers and are comfortable with the Internet. However, all sites ask you to specify how much education you have and you should answer accurately. Again, you're not going to be able to fudge your education for long, and many who date online consider this an important consideration.

Don’t feel you necessarily have to specify your exact income in your profile. Save such information for after you get to know someone. However, for many people, income is very important, so exercise your own judgement.

Of course, instead of specifying your exact income, you can hedge with a generic answer such as "I'll tell you later". But if you can truthfully list a high figure, it's to your advantage to do so. An income of more than, say, $100,000 can make up for other qualities that aren't so commonly desirable. You might also want to specify your income if you are looking for someone whose professional situation is similar to your own.

Do's and Don'ts

Part of creating a good profile is simply avoiding some obvious mistakes that you see online all the time. Common profile no no’s are:

- The profiles contain spelling and grammar mistakes
- Users mention their ex spouses or companions
- Photos contain other people along with the profiler
- Photos obviously attempt to cut out other people
- Users choose the incorrect gender preference

A full 51% of respondents complained about spelling and grammar mistakes. It's surprising because such errors are easy to correct. Even if you do make a typo, you can edit your profile to undo the damage. Take time when typing your profile, and be the first to visit your prof